Chena Huts
Yala National Park

Deep in the south of Sri Lanka, next to Yala National Park, lies Chena Huts, part of Uga Escape’s portfolio of luxury boutique hotels. This lodge is nestled amongst golden sand dunes that lead down to the Indian Ocean’s edge, the entire resort overlooking a rugged beach. The fusion of rural wilderness and seascape makes for an unforgettable setting.

The property is spread over seven acres and is made up of 14 luxurious detached cabins. Each of these cabins has a shaded outdoor deck with a built-in plunge pool, and this is the only all-pool resort in the region. The cabins themselves, while looking rustic and barefoot from the outside, offer the most spacious and opulent accommodation and are equipped with a bedroom, en suite bathroom with free-standing bath tubs, and living area. All 14 cabins are the same size and design, they only differ in their location within the grounds, and the cabins are spread out amongst the dunes and wild greenery that you would hardly know there were other guests there. The cabins offer utmost privacy and seclusion for an escape into the wilderness, making them a great option for couples and honeymooners. They equally suit families very well and can have up to two extra beds placed in the rooms for children.

The décor is all about the outdoors, and was designed to be in harmony with its wild surroundings. The style subtly highlights a safari theme with pleasant touches such as log furniture and African-style motifs. The interior features and soft furnishings are made from natural materials and the cabins, although spacious, feel cosy, warm and welcoming.

Guests can enjoy stylish fine dining at the tucked away Basses restaurant, named after the nearby reef and lighthouse. An open air pavilion looking out over the sea, it is a wonderful dining location with a fun nautical theme. Private dining can also be arranged in the private pavilion, or on the beach with a romantic bonfire under the stars, or by the lagoon. Sri Lankan and western cuisines are served here and there is even a outdoor pizza oven for when food from home calls to you.

Surrounded by unspoilt wilderness, Chena Huts is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers alike; perfectly located well off the beaten track and within close proximity to the Bundala National Park which is one of Sri Lanka’s best bird watching locations. It is also only a few minutes away from the entrance to Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's oldest and largest national park - the ultimate safari destination to see leopards in the wild. And on the beach nearby, sea turtles lay their eggs by moonlight and elephants wander down to cool off in the surf so the range of wildlife one may see here is breathtaking.

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson